Is Airforce the way to go?

Hey guys. I'll be graduating in two years and want to join the Airforce as a firefighter. Can anyone recommend this as a good choice for the armed forces. Will it help my chances when I get out of the service getting onto a civilian FD. Whats the school like, How many weeks is the school. What are your thoughts on someone going to the airforce as a firefighter. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

C/Capt Cody Pugh
WV040 United States Air Force Auxiliary
"Eyes of the home skies"

another CAP'er!

I honestly don't know much about armed forces firefighting, but you've got a leg up on the competition since you've got your Mitchell already. There's an Army brother on the forums, so you might PM him to get some information. Take advantage of your sqadron resources and get a ride-along with an AFB ARFF crew.

Military service nearly always helps on getting future civilian jobs, especially firefighing or law enforcement, since we operate with a similar chain of command structure. Good luck getting the job you want, and good luck on the ASVAB.

While I've never served in the Armed Forces, I've heard that the Air Force firefighting is the way to go, military-wise.
I've heard that you need to make sure you'll get what you want before you sign your name. A lot of times you'll also be stuck tending runways or planes and never see a structure fire.
Military service in general gives you an edge to the competition simply because of the Civil Service points. Those can go a long ways when it comes down to the testing and ranking of candidates.

AF Firefighting

The best answers to your questions will come from an Air force recruiter, but as an AF Cop, I can give you what information I know. Fire Protection in the Air Force falls under Civil Engineering, the job title is 3E7X1. The school is about 68 days long after you complete basic training, and is held in Texas. They teach structural as well as aircraft firefighting. As the other responses have said, military service in general usually will get you bonus points on civil service tests. This link will give you some good information also.

I myself have not done it but I have a very good friend who just did it. It took a while though because he was making sure everything was in place first. If you have a degree before you sign it will help. You have more say in what you do. The school I think was 2 months or so after basic training. He's been there all summer and the heat sucks but he said the training is the best. Now he joined because he was out there pounding the pavement looking for a paid ff position and it wasn't happening. The people beating him out for the jobs were coming out of the military. He's in for 4 then out and can more or less get a job anyplace he wants (or so he's been told).
Like others have said though talking to the recruiter will be your best bet. However find out if there is anyone in the Air Force that is a fire fighter that you can talk to. Recruiters will do anything and say anything to get out to sign on the doted line. I am speaking from experience on that one…
I know that tech school would be at Goodfellow AFB in Texas. Good luck!

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the fire training school at Goodfellow AFB and review their programs. The facility is relatively new and the programs appeared to be of excellent quality. At that time, they were running two shifts per day through the recruit school (I think it was 0600-1500 and 1600-24000. If necessary, they can run 3 training shifts per day. They are responsible for conducing structural and CFR for all branches of the DOD.

If you click on the link below, it will take you their website. There, you can look at the individual courses and get an idea of the length.

An Obviously Biased Answer

I am currently an active duty USAF firefighter/paramedic. This being said, yes-as far a military firefighting goes it really is the way to go. I've just recently returned home after spending 3 weeks at Goodfellow AFB attending the Rescue Technician school. I'll try to answer many possible questions with this reply. First and foremost... Get the firefighter job IN WRITING FROM YOUR RECRUITER. Far be it for me to "slander" any brothers in blue... but, they'll tell you anything you want to hear to make their quota. This isn't theory but rather fact. An acquaintance of mine used to be a recruiter and they make no bones about this fact over a beer. All branches of the military offer some sort of FF job, but only in the AF will you get "everything". Granted, the AF has just about fire prevented itself out of structure fires these days, but here at Charleston AFB, we've had a raging housefire as well as mutual aids into the City of North Charleston when things heated up. Of course this will depend totally on whatever base you end up at regarding responses on mutual aids, etc. As with any dept in the country, be careful what you wish for-there are fires happening daily on military installations. The bread and butter of AF Fire Protection is ARFF and base medical responses. We stay quite busy regarding these type of calls. I can't think of another place to receive so much training. If you are ambitious to create a prized resume, the AF is a great place to start. If you show that you want schools- you'll get them, I'm living proof. I've been a vollie for a number of years and was not always an AF firefighter. I retrained a little over a year ago and have already got quite a few certs under my belt. There are always going to be mutts in any fire dept and the AF is no different. There are folks I work with who could care less about being a fireman. I don't like them and I'd like to give them "permanent civilian status". But if you're a go-getter and a productive member of the team, it will be rewarded. The "basic" ff course is at Goodfellow AFB in Texas and is approximately 3 months long. I went through it at 36 years old and had a blast. Awesome instructors and class 1 equipment to train with. Be in shape, because the physical side will separate the weaklings. But believe me, if I can do it, anyone can. My suggestion is to prepare by running a few miles 3-4 times a week before you go. Endurance is the key to survival at the school. Dont ever forget the fact that you are a military member either. I currently have fellow ff's in just about every hotspot you could name all over the world. If you're married as I am, make sure your spouse is supportive of this "lifestyle". I'm lucky, my wife has put up with a husband assigned first to an AF Combat Control Team, then a Tactical Air Control Party, and finishing up a firefighter, yes I'm very blessed. If you have any other questions, just message me and I'll do my best to find an answer for you.